Parents in Mumbai disappointed as state fails to amend law to end fee hike disputes

Parents are disappointed with the government for not amending the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011, that would have allowed them to complain to Divisional Fee Revision Committee (DFRC) on fee disputes with schools.

In December 2017, an 11-member committee formed by the government and headed by retired high court judge VD Palshikar recommended that individual parents and the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) should have more rights on fee-related disputes.

Based on this, state education minister Vinod Tawde had said the government would try and work towards bringing necessary amendments to the Act in the following few months.

Parents were expecting an amendment in the law at the monsoon session of the state legislative assembly which ended last week. With no progress, parents are left in the lurch.

Under the current fee revision rules, individual parents cannot move the DFRC over fee hike complaints but the school managements can.

“There are many schools that have abruptly hiked fees by flouting the rules. With the amendments still not in place, the state education department is not entertaining any complaints from parents and PTAs. This is giving schools an upper hand as they are getting to do as they please without action being initiated,” said Anubha Sahai, president of All-India Parents Association.

Sahai said several parents’ association across the state plan to agitate against the delay. “Even in its existing form, the Act has provisions for the government to take action against erring schools if parents complain. But, the rules are not exercised,” she added.

Tawde said an ordinance would be passed at the next cabinet meeting.

Parents said they hope the decision would be taken soon.

“In June, my son’s school imposed a 30% fee hike for the second consecutive year. Despite several written complaints, there has been no action against the school. We hope the government comes up with the amendments soon,” said a parent of a Navi Mumbai school on the condition of anonymity.